Cowboy Hula - by Sam Kamaipelekane

 

Hanohano wale nō nā cowboy lā
I ka lawe haʻaheo ke kaula ʻili
**Kāʻeʻaʻeʻa o ke kīpuka ʻili

Ua like ā like me ka mahimahi lā
I ka nihi hele i ka laʻi lāʻau

Huli aku nānā iā Maunakea
Pipi ʻāhui hao winiwini

Hoʻolei pono iho ke kaula ʻili lā
I ka lae o ka pipi ʻāhiuhiu

Hāwele pono iho ke kaula ʻili lā
Ka makuʻu o ka noho ʻItalia

Mai uka a ke kai hāwanawana
ʻO Keoni liʻiliʻi ē ka luna nui

Hea aku mākou e ō mai ʻoe lā
ʻO Keoni liʻiliʻi ke poʻo cowboy

Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana lā
Hanohano wale nō nā cowboy

** alternate stanza 

Famous are those cowboys, oh
As they proudly handle their lassos
**The whizzes of the rawhide lasso

It's just like a dolphin fish, oh
As they go sneaking about in the forest

Turn and look at Maunakea

The sharp horned wild cattle

Casting the lasso correctly, oh
Over the heads of the wild cattle

Coiling the lasso correctly, oh
On the pommel of the saddle

From the uplands to the whispering sea
Small John is the big boss

As we call out, you answer, oh
O, small John, head of the cowboys

This is the end of my song, oh
Famous are you, all you cowboys

**


Source: Paulo Collection- Peter Ahia's album "Talena" - This is a name song for John "Poko" Kawananakoa Lindsey Jr, foreman of the Parker Ranch cowboys for many years. Verse 6 is in reference to his diminutive size, Poko means short. The song has 12 verses.
Hawaiian Text edited by Puakea Nogelmeier